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Cherry prices fall from 300 to 50-60 dinars: Some farmers uproot trees 'because it's not profitable'
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Economy & Trade

Cherry prices fall from 300 to 50-60 dinars: Some farmers uproot trees 'because it's not profitable'

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Serbian cherry farmers are facing financial ruin as the purchase price for their crop has plummeted from 300 dinars last year to 50-60 dinars per kilogram this year.
  • Many farmers are considering uprooting their trees, stating that the current price does not cover their production costs.
  • One farmer estimates that his family, with over 7,000 trees, can only earn a single average Serbian salary for the entire year.

Cherry farmers in Meroลกina, Serbia, a region known for its sour cherry production, are contemplating drastic measures, including uprooting their trees, due to a catastrophic drop in market prices. Last year, cherries fetched 300 dinars per kilogram, but this season's price has collapsed to a mere 50-60 dinars.

From last year's 300 dinars for a kilogram, the purchase price of cherries this year has fallen to 50 or 60.

โ€” N1 SerbiaDescribing the dramatic decrease in cherry prices.

This drastic price reduction has left many farmers facing significant losses. Milan Momฤiloviฤ‡, a cherry grower from Meroลกina, described the situation as unsustainable. He explained that while a "realistic price" would be around 120 dinars per kilogram, the current market reality makes the business unviable. Momฤiloviฤ‡ calculated that his family, which cultivates over 7,000 cherry trees across three orchards, can expect to earn only one average Serbian salary for their entire year's work.

A realistic price would be 120 dinars.

โ€” Milan Momฤiloviฤ‡Stating what cherry farmers consider a fair price for their product.

The cost of production, including protective agents, fuel, and labor for pickers, amounts to approximately 30 dinars per kilogram. When combined with the meager 50 dinara purchase price, the operation results in a substantial loss. "It's not profitable," Momฤiloviฤ‡ stated, adding that on one parcel, they have finished work for the day, but on another, they are uprooting trees because it simply does not pay.

For the whole year, we can earn one average salary in Serbia.

โ€” Milan Momฤiloviฤ‡Illustrating the severe financial impact of low cherry prices on his family's income.

Concerns are also mounting about the future of agriculture in the region. Some estimates suggest that up to 40% of cherry trees in the village of Brest have already been removed. Farmers are in discussions about whether to continue struggling or abandon the crop altogether. Beyond cherries, plum growers are also uncertain about their prospects, and the region continues to await much-needed rain after an extremely dry previous year.

The purchase price is 50 dinars, and the investment in protective agents, fuel, and picker wages is 30 dinars per kilogram. That's unprofitability.

โ€” Milan Momฤiloviฤ‡Detailing the cost breakdown that highlights the financial loss.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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